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Effie Ruskin's Bohemian Garden




I love this portrait of Effie Ruskin by Thomas Richmond painted in 1851.
(2nd photo)
We know only of Effie from what we read, but can dream of what she might do once the portrait is finished. Maybe she kicks off her shoes, lets down her hair, and flees to the solace of her bohemian garden, wild with flowering weeds and herbs. Repurposed containers such as a silver antique urn left to her by her grandmother, are filled with wild roses and line the stone wall in the back of her family's estate. In her garden, she creates odd pieces of jewelry, using items stolen from family member's private quarters.

Her family may sigh and whisper, "let her be, she's always been a bit odd, don't you agree?"

Though Effie's real story may be somewhat different, this portrait speaks to me and tells me a fairytale to be....

"Effie Ruskin's Bohemian Garden" was made with found vintage objects. The flower is an old drapery tack and the beetle image climbs up the tip of an old silver plate fork.

The 15 1/4" chain was created with sterling wire and peridot glass beads. There is just a touch of the same green in the beetle.

posted by: sweetpeas at February 18, 2009 15:25 | link | comments (5) |
artsy fartsy, jewelry, junque revival news

Dr Zhivago & the BIG FOUR-O

 So I turned the BIG FOUR-O last Saturday! I spent the night hanging out with my friends, Brodie and Brett. (thankyou Mary, Brodie, Brett and Lindsay for that incredible bouquet!) We went to dinner, then hung at the pub. My boss is a stickler for birthday cakes, so once again I was embarassed by the entire bar singing "happy birthday". LOL! The regulars kept buying me shots, and I would secretly hand them off to whoever happened to be standing by. I could have stayed at my friends, but I really wanted to get home, and one thing I don't do is drink and drive!

My Dear Dawn sent me a hot chocolate care package, (it was really from Baby Leo) with an adorable photo of Leo himself! What a little dude!
 
One of my best Gal-Pals Lindsay, just got home from a vaca. in Colorado, and talk about spoiling me rotten! She brought me home a beautiful scarf/shawl that has got to be 5 ft. long! Also, one of the most beautiful bracelets I've ever had the pleasure of owning!!! Chunky, thick and wide pewter with a stamped floral design, this piece is just so me. Next to the bracelet Big Daddy bought me a few years back at an art show in Fort Myers, it's my fave!

I'm so lucky to have my Gal-Pals, what would I do without you?

Folks keep telling me that I don't look fourty, but I wonder if my regulars at the pub who might've had "one too many" count? Hey, age is a state of mind...and YES, I believe that whole heartedly!

On to art!
 
I have always loved the story of Dr. Zhivago & Lara by Boris Pasternak. The 1965 movie version is one of my most loved movies, and I've always found inspiration in the props, settings and the story itself. In my mind these characters were true Bohemians.

If Yuri would have had the means to present Lara with a gift as a token of his love, while their stay in the "Ice Castle", this is what I would imagine it to be.

The pendant was created from a sterling and rhinestone brooch, a crystal drop, and rose quartz.

The chain's many elements are rose quartz, vintage crystal rosary, chandelier crystals, and sterling chain.

FROM DR. ZHIVAGO WITH LOVE



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I want to give a quick shout-out and hello to jewelry designer Cindy from Sweet Bead Studio. Cindy is one of the many lovely ladies who wrote to me after my two articles in Belle Amoire came out this winter, and I am glad that we're still keeping in touch. I'm just waiting for her to create her own polymer-clay pendant, similar to the pieces I wrote about in one of my articles. Her on-line shop is so pretty, and her pieces are truly OOAK!!! I adore this piece below.....

MYSTIFIED

posted by: sweetpeas at February 12, 2009 15:15 | link | comments (10) |
artsy fartsy, jewelry, junque revival news, fabulous finds

new piece!

In my collection, I have some very old Shakespeare books that are almost so far gone, they are not worth much on the market. But luckily for me, their pages have provided wonderful art material to use in my creations.

"Shakespeare's Raven" came together using many lovely old elements. The pendant was the base of an antique drawer-pull, topped off with a very old button. The drop was made from an original chandelier crystal, Shakespearian text and a vintage raven image.



Hope you are all getting through the cold winter months! (for those of you lucky enough to live in year round sunshine...I have to tell you I'm a bit jealous at the moment!!!)

xoxoxox

posted by: sweetpeas at February 06, 2009 22:38 | link | comments (5) |
artsy fartsy, jewelry, junque revival news